Tag Archives: Florida

The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

Anticipation

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

It always comes to this moment.  Before every big ride, I get to a point where the planning is finished. The trike is packed.  All I need to do now is climb in and ride.  But it’s not yet time to leave, so I must wait for another day.

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The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

Packing Up The Recumbent Trike

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I managed to get most of the items on my packing list into my panniers and on the back of my trike this morning.  It took a bit of struggling to figure out where everything goes, but ultimately it all fit.

For this tour I have a brand new tent.  The Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT is lighter than my old tent, but a lot larger.  Not only is there more room inside, but it includes a big covered vestibule area that will hold my panniers at night.  In the old tent, things got pretty crowded with my clydesdale self and both panniers inside the main tent.  I’m really looking forward to spreading out in all the extra space on this tour.

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Recumbent Trikes, Recumbents

Front Fenders Are Back!

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When I bought my trike, I got fenders for it.  Living in Southern California, I found fenders on the trike unnecessary.  It hardly ever rained, and when it did, I did not ride. So shortly after The Pacific Coast Tour, I removed the fenders and I’ve been happy ever since.

Until Florida that is.  Here is Florida it rains.  A lot.  Pretty much every day.  It usually only rains for a few minutes, although it has rained for a few entire days this summer.   If I ride regularly, I will get caught in a rain storm occasionally.  If if I’m not stuck in the rain itself, the water stays on the roads and trails for hours after, so I am always riding through puddles and mud.

So today I dug through the garage, found the fenders and put them back on.  When out for a quick 25 miles.  No problems.  They rattle a little, and one of the bolts came loose part way through the ride.   I tightened everything up and added some Locktite when I got home.  I don’t really like the way they look though – but I’ll probably get used to that.

I’ll keep them on through my tour to St. Augustine, then I decide again if I want to keep them on.

So what do all you folks think?  Fenders, or no?

The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

St. Augustine Equipment List

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I’m starting to complete the equipment list for this ride.  Even though this is a relatively short ride, there seems like a lot of stuff to drag along.   I need to decide what I really need.  Where is it all going to fit on the bike?

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The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

The St. Augustine Plan Starts to Come Together

I’ve Got A Plan!

Well, at least I have a little more clarity on the plan to ride to St. Augustine.   I’ve studied up on the route, and I know where the campgrounds are located.    I have put together a tentative plan for my ride north.  6 days should do it, without too much stress, and no horribly long days.

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The St. Augustine Tour (Fall 2015)

The Recumbent Gourmet Heads To St. Augustine

You heard it here first!  The Recumbent Gourmet is heading to St. Augustine.  Mike will pack up his trike and ride the approximately 350 miles from Lakewood Ranch to St.Augustine.  Nancy will meet him there, and they will spend a few days of fun and sun together in the United State’s oldest city.

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Street Rides

Riding South From Linger Lodge

A quick post today –  really only of interest to cyclists here in Lakewood Ranch.  Every local cyclist I know has lamented that there is no way to ride south into Sarasota after crossing the I75 Freeway on Linger Lodge Road.  But I’m here to tell you,  there is a way. It’s not a great way.,  Many people will say it’s not worth the effort, but it is possible to cross the Freeway on Linger Lodge Road and then  ride south toward Sarasota.

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Bike Rides, Bike Trails, Street Rides

Loop Around Anna Maria Sound

I have not done a long ride in a while, so I decided I’d head out on Friday for a longer ride  to Anna Maria Island and back.  I planned a route that would take me into some new territory – a neighborhood called Cortez that I have never ridden through,   and an area called Palma Sola where I’ve only ridden in a small corner.

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Restaurants

Conflicted About Michael’s On East

We visited Michael’s on East for our anniversary because we heard it is one of the best (if not the best) restaurant in Sarasota. I have to say that the food is very good as is its wine list (definitely the best we have seen here so far). I made a reservation about 2 weeks in advance on Open Table. I even mentioned it was our anniversary.

It is hard to find Michael’s because unless someone tells you exactly where it is because you don’t know the front of the restaurant is the back of a mall. It is beside an aging atrium that needs to be updated.

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